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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Paul Wheelock

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah the hero again as Egypt progress in AFCON

Mohamed Salah was the hero once again as the Liverpool superstar helped Egypt into the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Salah equalised and then set up the extra-time winner as The Pharaohs came from behind to edge their quarter-final clash with Morocco 2-1 at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium.

Egypt will now play hosts Cameroon in the semi-finals on Thursday, February 3 (7pm kick-off, UK time).

Salah had fired The Pharoahs into the last-eight by scoring the decisive spot-kick as they beat Ivory Coast 5-4 on penalties following a tense 0-0 draw.

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But they got off to the worst possible start this afternoon as Morocco opened the scoring in the sixth minute through a penalty from former Southampton winger Sofiane Boufal that was awarded after an on-pitch VAR review.

Salah brought Egypt level in the 53rd minute with his second goal of the tournament - a close-range finish after Mohamed Abdelmonem’s header was saved by Yassine Bounou.

And he produced a moment of brilliance in the 100th minute, sprinting down the right wing before producing a superb cross for Aston Villa winger Trezeguet to tap in.

The semi-final with Cameroon will be a repeat of the 2017 final, which seven-time champions Egypt lost 2-1 after going in front.

And that match means Salah will almost certainly miss Liverpool’s FA Cup fourth-round clash at home to Cardiff City on Sunday, February 6.

Sadio Mane will aim to join his Reds team-mate in the last-four of AFCON when his Senegal side take on Burkina Faso in the remaining quarter-final tie, which is to be played later this evening.

Mane was seemingly knocked unconscious shortly before scoring the opener in Senegal’s 2-0 last-16 win over Cape Verde on Tuesday and, although he was replaced shortly afterwards and taken to hospital for tests, he is believed likely to be fit for tonight’s game.

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